Samur forest and Caspian shore

Samur forest and Caspian shore

We all could not wait the trip to Samur forest. Wildlife photographer Valery Moseykin, “Photo Expedition” leader and the author and guide of the first eco-tour in Dagestan, was talking about this wonderful forest with admiration since the very beginning. So with expectations that high, the long way from Mahachkala to Samur river actually looked not that long at all. In addition, we saw endless water space of azure and calm Caspian Sea to the left, and Caucasian foothills to the right. Finally we found ourselves at the southernmost point of Russia, almost at the border with Azerbaijan.
Looks surprising, there is an asphalt road through the south-eastern side of the Samur forest. Locals take it to get to Primorsky settlement which is in 350 meters from Azerbaijan. And this road led us right to the heart of the forest.
As soon as we got out of the car, we saw adorable orchids, a species from Orchis genus. Two other species were hiding in the forest next to the glade.
Fish breeding farm was the next stop. However, we haven′t yet got under the roof as we saw a giant emperor moth, the largest butterfly of Russian fauna. Perhaps somebody frightened it, and it started flying to find a peaceful place for a midday rest.
Then we moved right to the Caspian Sea shore. At that time, the sky began to hide behind some mist and clouds, the wind almost disappeared, and a soft tide was literally pushing Caspian out of time borders. Touching the dark-grey sand, we headed to the north to spot egrets and other wetland birds.
One can move through the forest only by roads and rare paths. There is no other way, trees and everything in between were covered with smooth and thorny lianas. These jungles, an impossible for humans to cross, are home for wild cats and jackals. By the way, their concert starts on schedule—every evening at dusk, followed by cicadas and owls. The latter is quite unusual to hear in coincidence.

Григорий | Gregory 2017-07-25
Erythronium in the wilds of space-time

Erythronium in the wilds of space-time

The Spring in Mountains of Caucasus is bright and very dynamic season. While the snow is thawing, snowdrop flowers appear above it, and other primrose species impatiently follow. When you step down on a knee, you feel admired with these graceful adder’s-tongue flowers. They silently explode like a white flock through last year’s grass together with some subtle fresh stalks. Flowers are truly lost in spring turbulence of space-time. To further underline this, I use to wait for an interesting light angle and make the picture with a vintage triplet lens from post-war Germany.
These Erythronium caucasicum species are endangered plants and belong to The Red Book. However, adder’s-tongue flowers may appear locally abundant in places which are unfavorable for agriculture and other human activities, such as these thorny thickets along a mountain slope.

Григорий | Gregory 2017-03-18
Marble textures in Ruskeala

Marble textures in Ruskeala

Photographers and other tourists are attracted by this half-flooded marble quarry in Ruskeala settlement. However, it′s not as easy to get here as to the north-western part of Ladoga skerries. In fact, Ruskeala is even more to the north than the city of Petrozavodsk.
I would not say I feel very familiar with what Ruskeala quarries may offer for landscape photography. Anyway it′s quite hard to get known to the place in just one day. But for sure I am impressed with various marble textures, patterns and surface types. These things may be photographed from both the boat and land.
There are two two grottos on the Large marble quarry lake, one of which allows you to stand full-length in the boat, while in the other one you take care not to crash your head against the rock ceiling. Locals use to make wedding photos in the large grotto from a motor-powered pontoon. The smaller grotto is much less visited. I was happy to see a small duck there, which slowly moved to the open water and made a nice spot in the image.
There is a path along the lake shoreline which leads you to a vertical mine and a horizontal gallery. Huge depression with an underwater lake is located nearby. Then the path leads to Italian quarry. You may find some artifacts here, like large rocks of drilled and knocked marble, old rusty railway switch, tub wheels, etc. so there is something to explain about for your children.
Smooth walls of Italian quarry demonstrate various textures of marble rock – stripes, twirls, and threads.

Григорий | Gregory 2017-01-05
Iris flowers in Yamskaya Steppe

Iris flowers in Yamskaya Steppe

The great thing about places you are already familiar with is that you are always aware of what to photograph once you get there. Nevertheless, these places continue to surprise.
It was like that in Yamskaya Steppe this time. Feather grass hasn′t yet started to flower, while all the primroses were gone, but lots of splendid dwarf iris flowers appeared here and there in the steppe.
Colorless droplets after rain made fresh colors of petals look even better. Iris flowers were just perfect at sunset, sunbathing and shaking slowly after short breeze.

Григорий | Gregory 2016-12-13
Orchids in a spruce forest

Orchids in a spruce forest

Every creature was glad for such a hot summer weather in the very end of May. Most important, orchids were glad, too! I haven′t photographed them for such a long time, especially not far from St. Petersburg.
So today are some photos of lady′s slipper, Cypripedium calceolus, which likes spruce forests on soils rich in carbonates.
The number of these orchids in that particular location is absolutely incredible! And I′m very happy with that, because our orchids are all endangered and in general very subtle and susceptible to human barbarous approach to nature.

Григорий | Gregory 2016-12-05
Rising above the Steppe

Rising above the Steppe

These touching pasqueflowers, which appear in abundance above the dry grasses of Yamskaya Steppe, call for an individual approach. No doubt, you are going to photograph them counter-lighted to highlight their fur-like downiness. To make the picture more complex and more diverse than made by macro lens on its own, I have put a teleconverter coupled with an extension tube between camera and the lens. That brought more air into the frame and made the bokeh deeper. In addition to that, I have installed a macro flash, which I rarely do. However, its lights were directed not to the flowers, but to grass in the foreground, to highlight a few bright spots there, and therefore add more volume to the scene.

Григорий | Gregory 2016-07-12